HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 1730 - zoning ordinance ; driveways
ORDINANCE NO. 1730
AN ORDINANCE CALLING A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSAL TO
AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY
PLACE, TEXAS REGARDING DRIVEWAYS, MANEUVERING AREAS, CURB
CUTS, ETC~; PRESCRIBING PROCEDURES AND NOTICES; CONTAINING
FINDINGS AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT; AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, the Zoning and Planning Commission CCZ&PCn) of the City of West
University Place, Texas (UCity") has submitted a preliminary report on a proposal to amend the
comprehensive zoning ordinance of the CitYI as last reformatted and re-adopted by Ordinance
No~ 1672, adopted March 12, 2001 C~Zoning OrdinanceU); and
WHEREAS} the Z&PC's report is attached to this ordinance as Exhibit A and made a part
of .th is ord inance by reference; and
WHEREASJ the City Council desires to call a joint public hearing on such proposal;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE:
Section 1. The City Council hereby caBs a joint public hearing before the City Council
and Z&PC on the proposal described in Exhibit A. The hearing shall be held in the Council
Chamber of the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, West University Place, Texas
77005 during the City Council meeting set to begin at 6:30 p~m. on March 10, 2003. The
hearing may be recessed and continued to the City Council meeting set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on
March 24, 2003 at the same place.
Section 2. The purpose for the hearing is to provide an opportunity for parties in interest
and citizens to be heard in relation t~the proposal described in Exhibit A.
Section 3. The procedures for adoption of the proposal shall be as follows: (1) notice as
required by this ordinance, (2) hearing as called by this ordinance, (3) report by the Z&PC, and
(4) vote by the City Council on the question of adoption. The procedures for enforcing the
proposal shall be as set out in the existing Zoning Ordinance~ The proposal described in Exhibit
A is hereby submitted and re-submitted to the Z&PC for its consideration.
Section 4. The City Secretary shall give notice of such hearing as prescribed by this
section~ The notice shall be in substantially the form set out in Exhibit Bl which is attached and
made a part of this ordinance by reference. The notice shall be published in the City's official
newspaper (or another newspaper of general circulation in the City) at least once on or before
the 16th day preceding the date of the hearing~ In addition, the notice shall be mailed to the
persons on the mailing list for a regular edition of the City Currents newsletterA The notices shall
be deposited in the United States mail on or before ninth day preceding the date of the hearing,
properly addressed with postage prepaid. The notices may be included within the newsletter or
may be separate~ The City Council specifically approves giving combined notice of two or more
hearings in a single notice document, as this would save money and also provide better
information about the full scope of possible amendments to all interested personSA
Section 5. The City staff is authorized to make all necessary arrangements for the
hearing and to assist the Zoning and Planning Commission and the City Council.
Section 6. If any word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other part of this
ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall ever be held to be
invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this ordinance
and the application of such word, phrase! clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other part of
this ordinance to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. All
ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of the
conflict only. Ordinance No. 1727 adopted on January 13,2003 relating to the same subject is
hereby repealed.
Section 7. The City Council officially finds, determ ines and declares that sufficient
written notice of the date} hour, place and subject of each meeting at which this ordinance was
discussed, considered or acted upon was given in the manner required by the Open Meetings
Law, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended, and that such meeting has been
open to the public as required by law at all times during such discussion, consideration and
action. The City Council ratifies, approves and confirms such notices and the contents and
posting thereof~
Section 8. Because the proposal to amend the Zoning Ordinance is vitally important and
should be considered at the earliest possible date, a state of emergency is declared requiring
that this ordinance be read and adopted finally at this meeting. Accordingly, this ordinance shall
be adopted finally on first reading and shall become effective immediately upon adoption and
signature.
Signed:
, 20 03.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on
Recommended:
Exhibit A
Zoning & Planning Commission
City of West University Place, Texas
3800 University Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77005
September 12, 2002
Honorable Mayor &
Members of the City Council
City of West University Place
3808 University Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77005
Subject: Preliminary report on a proposal to amend the zoning
ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas
(nCity") relating to driveways and curb cuts
To the Honorable Mayor
& Members of City Council:
The Zoning & Planning Commission of the City submits this, its
preliminary report, on the subject proposal, for the assistance of the
Council as well as other interested persons.
Scope of Proposal. The proposal is to amend Table 7-5a, Sections
10-102 and 10-103 and the definitions in Article 2 to amend various
driveway and curb cut regulations, as follows:
There is a general "clean up" of the regulations, including some
cross-referencing, definitions and reorganization.
The current ordinance limits the width of residential driveways to
20 feet. The proposal would allow a 3D-foot-wide driveway for
side-facing garages with three or more bays.
The proposal would add measurement rules for maximum driveway
width and maximum curb cut width. Driveway maximum widths would
be measured in the street area (i.e., the ROW) and in the front
yards, only. As a result, the maximum width rules would not apply
elsewhere. Curb cut widths would be measured at the edge of the
roadway.
The current ordinance does not allow parking pads, stub driveways
or other maneuvering areas in residential front yards. For
maneuvering areas connected to a major thoroughfare (i.e., Kirby,
Bellaire or Bissonnet), the proposal would allow such maneuvering
areas "to the extent reasonably necessary to provide a turnaround"
allowing vehicles to enter the thoroughfare going forward.
See the attachment to this report for the exact wording.
Preliminary Recommendation. Based on the limited review given
this matter so far, ,and subj ect to further review following public
hearing, the Commission: (i) finds that the proposal , if adopted,
would be in the public interest, (ii) makes a preliminary
recommendation favorable to the proposal, (ii) recommends that the City
Council call a joint public hearing to consider this matter. The
Commission invites all interested persons to participate in the joint
public hearing.
The Vote. The following members of the Commission approve this
preliminary report: Commissioners Pohl, Stewart, Nelson, Boucher,
Whitlock and Yehle voted "aye." Commissioner Brown was absent.
Respectfully submitted:
ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS
By:
~1fJ.~
For the Cornmissiod
< Recommended amendments
(Z&PC preliminary report)
relating to driveways, other maneuvering areas,
curb cuts, etc.,
9-1 0-02
Amend
Table 7~5a
as follows:
Table 7-5a:
Parking, driveways, etc.
Item
Of I-street parking spaces
and parking areas
Other regulations apply;
see, e.g. Article 10
Enlergenc)' access way
Driveways and pri vate
streets
Other regulations apply;
see~ e.g. Article 10.
Regulat ion
Nunlber, locat[on~
size, design
SpeGiaketbaelfs-ffiF
~afk.iHg-aFeaS
Grouping or sharing.
1 General Rule: Every buifding site, vehicular area and related structure must conform to the
1 applicable regulations shown, by District, in this table. C~NI A" means the rule does not apply.)
Exceptions/Special Rules: (]) See special rules noted in table. (3) See Article 9 regarding Planned
Development Districts. (3) See Note 7 regarding special exceptions. (4) See Arlicle 10.
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I Depends on land use~ layout, etc.. See Ihis Table) Table 7-4a and Article I n (including sdd-f::o,.:s!
moneuverine: areas 5p(:l€e, and design requirementsJ l'same site rJ rllle~ vards. street areas. loading
spaces~ etc.). s:::: ~\\9::: :.
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I :;~ :r!~:=~~~~= ;eaa eRrl or 17 ~~~i: ~~a~~~ i S~ek
stu b dn ve'.V:l}'s) Jnust--ee-beJtifHJ-tfle. Gleser--U1an ~ 0 f=~ J. street area~ e~~cept ! .J..{).
pFiflc [pal bui! din; or surroundOO-by an ulley, or (i i) farther than 5 OQ-f~ !
9~aqB.e-fenees-er-waI-ls-a~eas~eetl ] Eddvi llb distanee)-:ffem-a-s-troet-area---&e- 1
ffi-fleit;ht. N at allo~Ned in front yard. ~ 1
I See Af.ele 7 smU,.:, ! g, I I
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I Not allowed, except in a QMDS platted parking reserve serving two or more DU's. Bul see Nole 2.
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SF-2
I GR-J
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I GR-2
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SF-3
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Y5e-ef..arl~/eway, etc. Nettl-teHlrWeway-sf3"3GeS-fleHpaocs '\ vith i n m3fl~Hg-aroas-aFe--OOHntcd towm=e...t:Hc in! n iJTI it 111
num ber of parl~I n; spaces~ except for S FD use.
Use of parking areas Parking spaces for non~SFD uses nlay only be Llsed for Jllotor vehicle parking. See Note 3.
Mi n im urn width
See Note }.
M inill1um width
See Note /.
20 ft, vi a pu blic or private strcet~ to each princi pal bu ild ing and each D U (or to an adj accnt open
area accessible to "firefighters and equipnlent). 'Hldth is for both unobstructed ueees5-f*lt&-aHG
pa\Lemenh Other regulations also apply, c.g, nrc code.
For non~SFD residential use: ] 0 feet, or 17 feet if two-way and serving three or Inore DU~s.
~ ......... I ...................-......-..---
Maximmll \vidth . . For SFD use: (i) Dri vewav serving any sing le~bav ganigc: 12 feeL (i i) Drivewav i 11 a front yard
See Note 1. serving rear garage or side-facing garage: 12 feet nil) Drivcwav in side street area of a corner site
serving a side~facing gara~e wilh three or more bays: 30 feet (iy) Anv other drive\vav: 20 feet. ~
ft. ( front )'.:lrd drivcwJ.Ys with a rear ;;amge-eF-Sffigle-ffe~rage#-etHerNise 20 feet.:- For If
sew.:ing other residential uses: 24 ft. (or 35 feet if connecting to a major thoroughfare). For.J-f
seR4Rg any other use: 30 feet (or 35 feet if connecting to a major thoroughfare).
Maximum length I For non-SFD uses: 1,60 feet, driving ,distanc~ to the ne~rest str~et area, measured along cente;ii~;-
frool farthest end pomt. A longer drIveway IS allowed t f there IS an approved turnaround or second
! means of egress~ or if the dri ve-\vay is p tatted as part of the comlnon area in a Q MDS.
..............._..................~
Route, location See .""'lS,f-cS 6 and :. Note 6. NJA
Spacing For non-SFD uses: There must be at least 40 feet behveen the ~~inside~' apron edges (at their
I narrowest po ints) of driveways serv ing the same bu j Id ing site.
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PaVetllent l Requ ired type For SFO use: Hardwsurfnced pavCOlcnt required For each required parking space; t\vin uribbonsu of
j See Note 4. pavement arc permitted. For all other uses: Reinforced concrete, with curbs and drains required for
1 all veh icu] ar areas. Exceptions: See Tab Ie 7 ~ 3 (pervious pavelnent) and Note 4.
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Markings; wheel stops. I Required type For non-SFD uses: Parking spaces must be clearly marked on the paVClllcnt, and wheel stops are
j required. See Note 12.
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Curb cuts I NUlnber For SFn use; Maximum one per subdivided lot abutting the street. For non~S FO use: wI ax im lllll
Other regulations apply; l one per 50-ft. segment of street line. See A'ote 5.
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seeJ e.g. Article 10. I I
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j Max. \vidth per 50-ft. Four feet (for aprons) plus the lna..ximuffi driveway width allowed. Each curb cut Illust be confined
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j segnlent of street line to the part of the street area that directly abuts the building site(s) served. See lVote } +
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Visi b j lity tri angles Forbidden structures, The following are forbidden on parts 0 fa bu ilding site with in a visi bi] i ty triangle: structures, pi an ts
See definitions in p] ants and other or other th i ngs tall er than 2.0 ft. or shorter than 8.0 ft. Th is does not req 11 i re removal 0 f trees in
Art icle 2 th ings existence on July 1, ] 992, if kept pruned.
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Note 1.
Note 2
Note 3.
Note 4.
Note 5
Note 6.
^' ote 7.
fVidth lneasureJnenl Inethods. Min[lTIUITI drive\vav \vidth refers to both unobstructed vehicular access path and ouvcment. Ma'Xi[TIUITI
driveway \vidth refers to maximunl width of pavement in a front yard or street area, excluding complyin,; p3rkin;; spa6e5-afHl complying
curb cut aprons. Maxln1ufn curb cut width refers to the \vidth of the drive\vav plus aprons~ oleasured at the edge of the road\vav.
Grouped or shared parking. Article 10 also provides for a special exception~ in celtain circumstances.
.Parking exclusivity (non-SFD uses). Required parking spaces must be kept open, readily accessible and used for parking only} with no
sales~ dead storage, display, repair \vork, dismantling or servicing of any kind. Required guest parking spaces nlust be kept open and
reserved for that use only.
Pavelnent. The ZBA may issue a special exception to allo\v other materials if it nnds that they \vill provide equal or better durability.
Curb cuts. The ZBA lnay issue a special exception for additional curb cuts. Circular drive\vays speci.fica]]y alJo\ved by another ordinance
are not prohibited.
Route; Alternating Driveways. Each drive\vay Inust connect garage space to the street by the most direct route. On narro\V sites \vhere
alternate side yard areas apply (see "Y ardsu table), the following special restrictions also apply: (A) there must be a dri ve\vay located as
nearly as practicable to one side of the site; (B) the side is determined in accordance \vith the established drivc\vay pattern for the block
face in question, if there is such a pattern; and (C) if there is no such pattern, and if there is an adjacent dri ve\vay on one adjoining bu ilding
site but not the other, the drive\vay lTIUst be on the side farthest fr01TI the adjoining drive\vay. Exceptions: (i) this paragraph does not
prohibit circular drive\vays specifically permitted under another ordinance of the City, and (ii) a drive\vay Jllay be curved or moved a\vay
from the most direct route to the extent reasonably necessary to avoid destroying or seriously injuring a tree.
Special Exceptions. The ZBA may issue a special exception for a parking area, garage~ or drive\vay (or other nlaneuverinQ. area) in another
location or with a different design than prescribed by this ordinance, if it finds that: (i) the other location or design \vill not unreasonab ly
interfere \vlth avai lable light and air and \vi II not significantly alter access for "fire-fighting and similar needs; (i i) the other location or
design will prevent the destruction of a qualified tree; (i i i) in the case of the ren10deling of a principal building, the location requested is the
(. '.
saine location as an existing parkiht; area~ garage or drivevvay; or (iv) the location or des.l~91 requested is necessary for safety
considerati ons.
Note 8. Curb Cuts in PDD~TI1 J. (i) If a building site abuts both Bellaire Boulevard and another street, then all vehicular access shall be frOlTI the
other street, and no I11Qre than hvo curb cuts shall be allo\ved. I-Io\vevcr, in the case of the development of Lots 6~ 7, 8, 9 and the east ten
feet of Lot I O~ Block I, l(ent Place Addition; if Lot 6 is included in the saine bui Iding site or in a joint developlnent \vith the other lots,
vehicular access shall be lilnited .to one curb cut on Mercer Street. (ii) If a building site abuts only BeHaire Boulevard, vehicular access
shall be I in1i tcd to t\vo cu rb cuts.
Note 9. Curb Cuts in PDD~T[{5. (1) If a building site abuts both Acadmny and Bissonnet, no curb cuts on Bissonnet and no n10re than hvo curb cuts
on Academy are permitted. (ii) If a building site abuts only Bissonnet, there may be no more than t\\'o curb cuts.
A'ote J O. Drivel-vays in P DD- TH7. Cul-de-sac drive\vays in PDD- TH7 may not exceed 50 feet in length, or 200 feet if a terminus is provided \vith
dhnensions adequate for turning.
lVote ./1. Curb Cuts in P DD- TII2. (i) If a building site abuts both l{irby Drive and another street, there lnay be one curb cut on rei rby Ori ve and on
each other abutting street. (ii) If a building site abuts only Kirby Drive, vehicular access shall be Iill1ited to hvo curb cuts.
Note f 2. Curbs as Jt'heel Stops. Curbs may be used as \vheel stops. Area outside a curb-\vheel stop counts to\vard !ninilTIUll1 parking space
dimensions if actually usable as ~~overhang" and not needed for Inaneuvering area.
[Note: Amend the second page of Table 7-58 in the same manner.]
Amend
Sections 10-102 and 10-103
as follows:
Section 10-102. Minimum Dimensions; Design.
(a) Parldng Spaces~ All parlci.l1g spaces lTIUst be at least nine feet wide al1d 18 feet lon.g ill order to be
COul1ted toward the Inillimlll11 required l1u.mber. III additioll, tIle followillg regulations apply in. t11e indicated.
circumstances:
(1) Ninety-degree angle parlcil1g: Manellvering space sllall be not less tl1ml 23 feet il11engtll
or breadtll.
(2) Sixty-degree allgle parl<ing: Eacll parl<ing space sllall be not less tllall1lil1e feet wide
perpendicular to tIle parl(ing angle alld 110t less tllaI1 18 feet 1.11 lengtll wllel11neaSll.red at
rigllt angles to tIle building or parkillg lil1e. Manellvering space sllall be 110t less tllan 18
feet perpendicular to tIle buildillg or parkillg Iilles~
(3) Forty-five-degree angle parl<illg: Eacll parkillg space sllaIl be :not less tllal111il1e feet wide
perpelldicular to tile parkil1g angle al1d 110t less tIlal1 18 feet illlengtll wI1ell111easured. at
rigllt allgles to tIle buildil1g or parkil1g lilles~ Manellverillg space sllallllot be less tI1al1 15
feet perpendicular to the buildil1g or parlcillg lil1es~
(4) Wlleelcllair-accessible parl(ing spaces: Mllst be installed al1d luaintailled witl1 111unbers
and sizes prescribed by applicable regtllatiolls.
(b) Walkl1Jays. A private wallcway, if provided adjacent to a nOll-SF building, s]lall be 110t less tllan five
feet in width and. shall be ill addition to the l11inimuln requirement for parlcing al1d. lual1ellverillg space llerein
reqllired. 111 a QMDS, tllere Inust be a :paved wallcway (at least 3~O ft. wide) to tIle curb from eac11 main
entrance oriel1ted toward a street area.
(c) Additional Maneuverinz Areas $paee. 111 additiol1 to tile foregoing Inil1ilnl1111 dill1el1siollS for
parkil1g spaces, tllere lllUst be suell udditiollullnanclr./eril1g space Ul1d Sllfficiellt driveways and otl1er
maneuVeril1g areas as luay be ncccs~ary to allow ordinary, practicalllse of eacll parl(il1g space, as follows:
(1) See Article 7 regardil1g garage maneuveril1g area spaee.
ill MalleUVering areas l11ay not be cou.nted toward the required Jll1111ber of parkillg spaces
(except on sites witll SFD llse only).
ill E~[ccpt for tllose '\'Vllicll serve DIlly OIle or t'l/O d't".velling ~ulits, Malleuverillg areas aE:d
dIive"~~la~y~ luust be sized and arranged so tllat a large vellicle can leave tIle street drivil1g
forward, ellter allY reqllired parkil1g space drivil1g forward., parle in t11at space, llild tllen
re-ellter tIle street area drivil1g forward, all witllllO lllore tllal1 two stops to cllange
directions~ As used in tllis seetioll, "large vellicIe" meal1S a trllck 18 feet lOllg, with. a
tllrl1il1g radius of 24 feet (Olltside of bllnl1)er)~ Excevtion: Tllis does .110t alJplv to
Inal1ellveril1g areas tllat serve DIllv OIle or two dwellil1g llllits.
( (
(d.) Trqffic Engineering JJ.andbook~ All parlcing spaces, lualleuverlng areas, Joadil1g areas al1d otller
vellicular facilities Inust comply witll the applicable provisiollS of the Trqffic Engineering Handbook, 5th Ed.
(1999), incllldillg, in particular, Cllapter 14. Wllere lTIultiple standards are provided, tIle l1igllest standard shall
apply~ Example: "Parl<ing Class A" stllildard.s ill Table 14-6 would apply. Where tllis Ordillance IJfovides
specific l1umerical criteria differe11t frOIn tIle salue criteria in tIle Traffic Engineering Handbook, tllis Ordil1al1ce
controls~
(e) Other criteria~ See Article 7 for additional criteria, illCllldillg driveway, })arlcil1g and garage
regulations.
Section 10-103. Location of parking spaces.
(a) San1e Site Rule. All parl<ing spaces required by tllis ordinance 111l1St be located. OIl th.e sal11e building
site witll tIle bllilding space served~ Exception: tIle reqllired spaces may be located. IIp to 300 feet froIn th.e
el1tra11ce of a bllilding served (and ll1ay be outsid.e tIle City limits) for: (i) parlci11g for buildillg sites :not used
primarily for residential pllrposes wllere all il1crease ill tile n,uDlber of spaces is required by a cllallge or
enlargelnent of lIse, or (ii) spaces allowed by tllis OrdiIlance to be llsedjoil1tly for two or lllore bllildillgS or
estab Ii s lun en ts.
(b ) Yards and Street Areas. In all SF District all parl<ing areas and l11aJ.1ellver.il1g areas (illCludillg dead-
end oi4 stub driveways) Intis! be bellilld. tIle principal build.il1g: or SllfTollllded bv opaqlle fe.nces or walls at least
six feet in lleight'l and all stIch areas are .prohibited in front yards~ Excevtion: Mmleu.ver.i:ng areas COlmected
only to a luaior tllorollgIlfare lUay be located allvwllere 011 tIle bllilding site or ad.iacel1t street area~ to the extent
reasol1ably llecessary to provide a turnarOulld, allowing vellicles to leave alld ellter t11e road.way gOi11g forward.
In a Ilon-SF District" 110 required parkill~ space may be: (i) closer tllalll0 feet to a street area'\ except all allev" or
(ii) [miller tllan 500 feet ( drivillg distance) [reIn a street area~
El31 ill Certain Joint Use Of Spaces. TIle ZBA may isslle a special exceptioll to allow up to 75 percel1t
of tIle parlcing spaces reqllired for any building site to be used jointly for anotller bllildil1g site, if tIle ZBA finds
that no i11crease ill OIl-street parl(ing is lilcely to reSlllt See Table 7-5a regnrdirl.b s11ared or grou.ped guest
parking spaces~
f:e1 @ Above-Grade Parking. No parl<illg spaces ll1ay be located above grade~
t61 ill Easements in P DD-C 1. In PDD-C 1, !Jarlci11g spaces may 110t be located ill lilY easelnent for
underground. lltilities.
Amend definitions
in Article 2
as follows:
Curb cut mellilS a break ill a c-urb illtended to provide driveway access to a road.way~ If tllere is no curb~
tile ioiot or line separatillg the roadway from tIle driveway is deemed to be a "curb Cllt".
Roadwav l11eans tllat portion of a street area ilnproved.~ designed or ordil1arily used for velliclllar traffic
(excllldil1g .private driveways )~
SF District. This term refers collectively to tIle SF -1 District, tIle SF -2 District, aaa tIle SF -3 District,
PDD-SF 1 and PDD-SF2 and to eacll of theln~
C0902:\54 driveway amendmen ts~ Z&PC pre] in1 inary report
Exhibit B
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
The Zoning & Planning Commission and the City Council of the City of West University Place,
Texas CtCityU) will hold a joint public hearing in the Council Chamber of the Municipal Building,
3800 University Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77005 during the City Council meeting set to begin
at 6:30 p~m. on March 10, 2003. The hearing may be recessed and continued to the City
Council meeting set to begin at 6:30 p.m~ on March 24, 2003, at the same place. The purpose
for the hearing is to provide an opportunity for parties in interest and citizens to be heard in
relation to proposals to amend the City's Zoning Ordinance, as follows:
Framed Area. This proposal is to amend the definition of uframed area" in Article 2 of the
Zoning Ordinance~ The principal purposes are to:
(1) count space beneath air-conditioned space (for example, a breezeway beneath a
bedroom) as Uframed area;u and
(2) clarify and tighten the existing definition.
The proposal would not change the percentage of allowable uframed areau in Table 7-4b.
The percentage would remain 800/0 in the single-family detached districts (or 1000/0 in
certain higher-density districts).
Driveways, Maneuvering Areas, Curb Cuts, Etc. This proposal is to amend Table 7-
5a, Sections 1 0-1 02 and 1 0-103 and Article 2 as follows:
(1) provide a general uclean upu of the regulations, including some cross-referencing,
defin itions and reorgan ization;
(2) allow a 3D-foot-wide driveway for side-facing garages with three or more bays
(compared to 20 feet under the current ordinance);
(3) add measurement rules for maximum driveway width and maximum curb cut width
(Note: driveway maximum widths would be measured in the street area--i.e.~ the
ROW--and in front yards, only. As a result, the maximum widths would not apply
elsewhere. Curb cut widths would be measured at the edge of the roadway.); and
(4) allow parking pads, stub driveways or other maneuvering areas in residential front
yards connected to a major thoroughfare (Le., Kirby, BelIaire or Bissonnet), to
allow vehicles to turn around and enter the thoroughfare going forward.
Additional details on the proposals as well as the Zoning Ordinance are all available for public
inspection in the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77005. The
proposed amendments would be generally applicable within the City, and any person interested
in such matters should attend the hearings. The proposals may be adopted only after notice
and hearing, and they would control over any inconsistent provision in the current Zoning
Ordinance.
/s/ Kay Holloway, City Secretary
Date: